Kind of a gross topic, sorry. But my old friend wikipedia sometimes tells intriguing stories.
In some cases when a person has become trapped in a deserted place, with no means of communication or hope of rescue, the victim has amputated their own limb:
In 2007, a 66 year old man amputated his leg below the knee using his pocketknife after the leg got stuck beneath a fallen tree he was cutting in California.
In 2003, a 27 year old man amputated his forearm using his pocketknife and breaking and tearing the two bones, after the arm got stuck under a boulder when hiking in Utah.
Also in 2003, a coal miner amputated his own arm with a Stanley knife after it became trapped when the front-end loader he was driving overturned three kilometers underground.
… and so many more similar cases.
Question: Isn’t survival after amputation even more difficult?
Depends on the person and thier survival and medical skills.
I knew a guy who lost his two fingers after a grenade went off in his hand, just two fingers and nothing more was a miracle.
As far as I know most modern battlefield casualties who end up amputated by accident when their limbs are physically torn off thier body ussually have them cauterized either instantly or shortly afterwards.
Cauterization is a proven way of increasing chances for survival as is use of glues and other bonding substances.
I’m assuming this thread is a result of that movie just out where the dude lops off his hand on a mountain top. Now in those conditions I dont know what to say surely there is no immediate source of treatment, and besides if you have a tool to sever a hand why not use the same tool to claw away at the rock?
Anyhow I hope niether I nor anyone else ever comes close to such a grisly situation… I mean even for a creep like me amputation is pretty nasty.
I came close when both bones in my arm broke into fragments… but modern surgery is awesome they used pins and bolts to patch me arm up like frankenstien for a month. Now I just have a metal plate in my left arm… no I’m not the next terminator.
I'm assuming this thread is a result of that movie just out where the dude lops off his hand on a mountain top. Now in those conditions I dont know what to say surely there is no immediate source of treatment, and besides if you have a tool to sever a hand why not use the same tool to claw away at the rock?
Actually the guy did use his tool to claw away at the rock first but the way he was trapped that wouldn't have helped, he explained it in the movie. The worst part undoubtedly was where he tried to sever his nerve, now that made me cringe. Desperate situations lead to desperate measures.
Actually the guy did use his tool to claw away at the rock first but the way he was trapped that wouldn't have helped, he explained it in the movie. The worst part undoubtedly was where he tried to sever his nerve, now that made me cringe. Desperate situations lead to desperate measures.
Oh I see well if he tried and had no choice then I can see the simple reasoning behind the issue.
If you lose the hand and take a risk... you may still die but at least you have a very slim chance of making it out alive.
If you stay clung to a ledge then chances are your gonna die without help.
With a stark choice like that best to take the risk no matter how slim.... but the pain would have been immense.
At higher altitudes though limbs can go numb and blood flow slows down somewhat even nerves can be numbed but I still reckon it would hurt like hell, strangely though and I'm speaking from experience here once the initial pain is passed you lose any feeling at all in that limb.
The pain was probably nothing compared to what they were already going through :no:
I would certainly wait for rescue IF someone knew where I was so they’ll realise I’m missing and they’ll come looking for me, hopefully. Otherwise… well, I’d rather not think about it. shivers
Faris, no this thread is a result of that article I was reading on Pakistan’s amputee soldiers and also of an amputee youtuber who’s video I recently watched. Makes you realise how lucky you are!
You have a metal plate in your arm? Does it make the metal detectors go off?
Actually it depends on the type of metal detector most Airport detectors and hand held detectors do pick it up but I have a medical section on my passport I still get patted down but due to health and saftey and I guess PR they deliberatley know not to let me pass through metal detectors anyway…
Most severe broken bones are now fixed with metal fittings… thing is you can have them taken out if you want but it permanently results in deformation of the bone… the metal not only holds the bone in place it stops it swelling.
My plates gonna be taken out when I can afford it.
Kind of a gross topic, sorry. But my old friend wikipedia sometimes tells intriguing stories.
In some cases when a person has become trapped in a deserted place, with no means of communication or hope of rescue, the victim has amputated their own limb:
In 2007, a 66 year old man amputated his leg below the knee using his pocketknife after the leg got stuck beneath a fallen tree he was cutting in California.
In 2003, a 27 year old man amputated his forearm using his pocketknife and breaking and tearing the two bones, after the arm got stuck under a boulder when hiking in Utah.
Also in 2003, a coal miner amputated his own arm with a Stanley knife after it became trapped when the front-end loader he was driving overturned three kilometers underground.
... and so many more similar cases. :(
Question: Isn't survival after amputation even more difficult?
desperate times call for desperate measures...translates into will to survive
